Air-loaded base plate for can seamer

ABSTRACT

A can seamer for attaching a closure to an end of a container body includes a frame supporting a seaming chuck operable to hold the closure against one end of the container body. The container body is mounted on a supporting member and is disposed between the seaming chuck and the supporting member, the latter being rotatable with the can container body and the seaming chuck. Structure is provided for moving the supporting member toward and away from the seaming chuck, and includes a non-rotating piston movable with respect to the supporting member and defining with the supporting member a chamber under pressure for applying a constant load against the seaming chuck and the supporting member during the seaming operation. The chamber is supplied with pressure fluid and the piston means is provided with structure for imparting reciprocating movement thereto, and the supporting means and the piston means are provided with structure for locking the supporting member to the piston during translative movement of the supporting member away from a seamed container body at the conclusion of the seaming operation.

United States Patent [191 Smith I145] Sept. 2, 1975 AIRLOADED BASE PLATE FOR CAN SEAMER [75] Inventor: Curtis J. Smith, Fenton, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Container. Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 444,956

Primary ExaminerC. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Carpenter & Ostis l 5 ABSTRACT A can seamer for attaching a closure to an end of a container body includes a frame supporting a seaming chuck operable to hold the cllosure against one end of the container body. The container body is mounted on a supporting member and is disposed between the seaming chuck and the supporting member, the latter being rotatable with the can container body and the seaming chuck. Structure is provided for moving the supporting member toward and away from the seam ing chuck, and includes a non-rotating piston movable with respect to the supporting member and defining with the supporting member a chamber under pressure for applying a constant load against the seaming chuck and the supporting member during the seaming operation. The chamber is supplied with pressure fluid and the piston means is provided with structure for imparting reciprocating movement thereto, and the supporting means and the piston means are provided with structure for locking the supporting member to the piston during translative movement of the supporting member away from a seamed container body at the conclusion of the seaming operation.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AIR-LOADED BASE PLATE FOR CAN SEAMER THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a can seamer having the improvements according to the present invention embodied therein;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a support for a container body showing structure for moving the support translatively with respect thereto; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal view through the container body, showing a seaming chuck in position to seam the closure for the body.

The improved can seamer according to the present invention is denoted generally by the reference numeral l and includes a vertically extending frame 11 having a base B. A supporting member 12 for a container body CE is mounted for rotative movement in an opening 13 in an arm 14 extending from the frame 11. An arm A at the upper end of the frame 11 rotatably supports a seamer drive shaft S having a seaming chuck SC at the lower end thereof, a closure CL being interposed between seaming chuck SC and one end of the container body CB. Shaft S is driven by a pulley P having a belt B trained therearound, belt B in turn being trained about a second pulley P driven by a motor M mounted at the top end of the frame 11.

The support 12 is adapted to rotate in the opening 13, and when the container body CB is forced against the closure CL and the seaming chuck SC, a seaming roller SR freely turning upon a sliding support arbor 15, the movement of the seaming roller SR on arbor 15 being indicated by the arrows, the can body CB is seamed at the upper end thereof in a conventional manner, details of the seaming roller SR and its relationship to the closure CL and the seaming chuck SC being more clearly shown in FIG. 3.

Structure is provided for moving the supporting member I2 toward and away from the seaming chuck SC, and comprises a non-rotating piston 17 movable with respect to supporting member 12 and defining therewith a chamber C under pressure for applying a constant load against the seaming chuck SC and the supporting member 12 during the seaming operation.

The piston 17 has a passageway 21 therein which is connected to a supply line 22, there being a pressure regulating valve PRV connected in line 22 and regulating the pressure within the chamber C to a constant value.

Structure is provided for imparting translative movement to the piston 17, and it is connected to a connecting rod 24 and a piston pin 26, connecting rod 24 being connected to a crank throw 23 ofa crank 23A. The lat ter is connected to a crankshaft 27 extending from a speed reducer 28A mounted on the base B. Power is supplied to the speed reducer 28A by means of a drive motor 31 mounted on the base B and having an output pulley 32 therefrom, a driving belt 29 being connected between speed reducer 28A and driving pulley 32.

Structure is provided for locking piston 17 to the supporting member 12 during translative movement of supporting member 12 away from a seamed container body at the conclusion of a seaming operation. To this end support member 12 is in the form of an annular shaped cup 16 having an in-turned flange 19 which is engaged at times by the periphery 18 of piston 17. Dur* ing the translative movement of the support 12 away from the seamed can body CB, piston 17 comes into engagement with the in-turned flange l9 and the rotation of the shaft 27 and its related connecting rod 24 causes the support 12 to move away from the seamed container body CB.

At the conclusion of such movement a subsequent container body CB is placed on the support 12 with a closure CL placed atop thereof, the piston 17 and the support 12 moving in a direction toward the seaming chuck SC. By reason of the constant pressure supplied to the chamber C there is, at all times, a constant load against the lower end of the container Body CB irrespective of whether the piston 17 is in engagement with the in-turned flange 19. By reason of the setting of the pressure reducing valve PRV, the load against the lower end of the body CB is maintained at a constant.

The structure according to the present invention enables the support 12 for the container body to have a maximum amount of translative movement for removal of a seamed container body and for placement of another body on the support 12 with a maximum amount of room for such placement, the seaming operation when the container body moves with its closure CL against the seaming chuck being accompanied by a constant force against the container body CB.

I claim:

1. In a can seamer for attaching a closure to the end of a container body, the combination of:

a. a frame for supporting a seaming chuck operable to hold a can closure against the upper end of a container body;

b. means for driving said seaming chuck;

c. a supporting member for supporting the lower end of a container body, said container body being disposed between said seaming chuck and said supporting member;

d. said supporting member being rotatable with said container body and said seaming chuck;

e. structure for moving said supporting member toward and away from said seaming chuck comprising:

i. mechanically actuated, reciprocating piston means movable with respect to said supporting member and defining with said supporting member a chamber under pressure for applying a load against said seaming chuck and said supporting member during the seaming operation;

ii. means for supplying said chamber with pressure fluid to provide a constant pressure load therein;

iii. means for imparting reciprocating movement to said piston means;

iv. means for locking said piston means to said supporting member during translative movement of said supporting member away from a seamed container body at the conclusion of seaming operation.

2. A can seamer according to claim 1 wherein said piston means has a passage therethrough connected to a pressure regulated source of fluid.

3. A can seamer according to claim 1 wherein said piston means is engageable with a flange on said supporting member. 

1. In a can seamer for attaching a closure to the end of a container body, the combination of: a. a frame for supporting a seaming chuck operable to hold a can closure against the upper end of a container body; b. means for driving said seaming chuck; c. a supporting member for supporting the lower end of a container body, said container body being disposed between said seaming chuck and said supporting member; d. said supporting member being rotatable with said container body and said seaming chuck; e. structure for moving said supporting member toward and away from said seaming chuck comprising: i. mechanically actuated, reciprocating piston means movable with respect to said supporting member and defining with said supporting member a chamber under pressure for applying a load against said seaming chuck and said supporting member during the seaming operation; ii. means for supplying said chamber with pressure fluid to provide a constant pressure load therein; iii. means for imparting reciprocating movement to said piston means; iv. means for locking said piston means to said supporting member during translative movement of said supporting member away from a seamed container body at the conclusion of seaming operation.
 2. A can seamer according to claim 1 wherein said piston means has a passage therethrough connected to a pressure regulated source of fluid.
 3. A can seamer according to claim 1 wherein said piston means is engageable with a flange on said supporting member. 